Locus Estates

Selling Process

1Valuation

Pitching the price of your property correctly is a skill. Too high and you won’t receive any interest. Too low and the property sells for much less than it is worth. An accurate valuation pulls together information from several resources: The cosmetic, general structural condition and future potential of the property, the prices achieved for similar properties in the area. This information is reviewed and an appropriate asking price is offered to you.

2Selecting an estate agent

Selecting the perfect estate agent to represent your interest is most important. Sound local knowledge, well trained highly motivated staff; clear, fair terms of business, a competitive fee structure and a proven history of sealing deals should be high on your list of priorities. The agent that gives you the highest valuation is not always the best for you. Our staff are trained to an exceptionally high standard so you can rely on us.

3Obtain an EPC

An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rates the energy efficiency of a property and its carbon emissions. As of 6th April 2012, the EPC details should be displayed on all property particulars and it is now a legal requirement to provide an EPC for most properties in England and Wales.

4Instructing a solicitor (conveyancer)

You will need to decide who will do your conveyancing. Conveyancing is the term used to describe the legal process you must go through when buying or selling a home. Conveyancing can be done by a solicitor or a licensed conveyancer. Find out what their fees are, what other legal costs are involved and when these are payable. We can recommend a solicitor if you do not have one.

5Presenting your property

Prospective buyers will come to view your property, by appointment through the estate agent. Ensure your home is tidy and clean. De-clutter and take down any personal photographs for viewings – it makes the property less personal to you and more of a blank canvas for those looking around.

6Marketing your property

To find the right buyer your property needs maximum exposure across a wide range of media. We offer a range of important marketing benefits which will aid in getting you the best possible price.

To raise the profile of your property we always recommend these following methods:

Erecting a For Sale board – This is one of the most effective ways to advertise and attract buyers to your property. They really do work and they advertise your property 24 hours every day.

E-mail – The world of technology now enables us to send your property all around the world with a simple click of a button.

Direct marketing – We will contact any prospective purchasers who are registered with us and inform them of your property within minutes of receiving your instructions. Any details will be sent via any methods of communication including emails and SMS alerts. Targeting a direct market of registers applicants ensures we don’t get time wasters.

Website and property portals – Our website is updated instantly and full details of your home will be placed as soon as details have been approved. In addition to advertising on our website, we also advertise in local press and through national property portals.

7Accompanied viewings

Locus Estates believe that flexible opening times are essential to maximize viewing opportunities for your home. We know that our customers need to work around their usual daily commitments, resulting in a large number of our clients viewing after work or at weekends. Accompanied viewings allow us to share our expert knowledge on your property to achieve competitive offers. The safety of our clients is paramount therefore we never allow prospective buyers to visit un-accompanied.

8Receiving an offer

All offers will be reported both verbally and in writing and we will check all offers for their validity and ask for proof of funds. We will also conduct checks under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 and Money Laundering Regulations 2003 and ensure that any mortgage offer is verified. In the case of multiple offers, we will advise you on the best course of action.

We will always try to achieve the best possible price for your home and act in your best interests throughout the transaction.

9Offer agreed

Before an offer is agreed we will check the buyer’s ability to purchase a property. We can also contact the buyer’s personal mortgage adviser to confirm their financial commitment. This minimises the risk of a purchase falling through.

At the point of a sale being agreed, we will liaise with both your solicitor and the buyer’s solicitor and prepare the memorandum of sale and we will write to all parties confirming the agreed details of the sale.

Your solicitor will request the title deeds from the lender (if appropriate). The solicitor will prepare the draft contract, which details the terms of the sale, and send it to the buyers’ solicitor together with all relevant documents. The buyer’s solicitor will then start the preliminary checks. The Title Deeds and Lease (if applicable) will be checked and local searches carried out.

Remember that in England an offer is not legally binding, so until contracts have exchanged your buyer could change their minds without financial loss.

10Exchange contracts

At this stage both parties become legally committed to the sale, and if it falls through from this point onwards then the deposit is forfeited. Contracts are signed by both parties and the solicitor requests the buyer’s deposit. A completion date is set and agreed upon by both you and the purchaser. Unless agreed otherwise (e.g. a simultaneous exchange and completion) the completion date can be anything up to 28 days from the date of exchange.

11Organise your move

At this stage both parties become legally committed to the sale, and if it falls through from this point onwards then the deposit is forfeited. Contracts are signed by both parties and the solicitor requests the buyer’s deposit. A completion date is set and agreed upon by both you and the purchaser. Unless agreed otherwise (e.g. a simultaneous exchange and completion) the completion date can be anything up to 28 days from the date of exchange.

12Completion

Completion occurs when all outstanding legalities have been completed and the balance of funds are transferred to your solicitor. The solicitor will let you know when this has happened and will inform us so that we can release the keys.

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INFORMATION FOR TENANTS 

When renting a property, there are various costs that you will need to take into consideration when making an offer. 

BEFORE YOU MOVE IN 

Advance rent: Rent is usually payable in advance for each tenancy. You will therefore need to pay, as a minimum, the first months’ rent prior to the commencement of your tenancy, although the amount payable may differ dependent on the terms of your tenancy. 

A refundable holding deposit. you will be required to pay one weeks rent and this will be either returned or offset against the refundable tenancy deposit within 7 days, or up to a maximum of 15 days. This is required in order to submit your offer to the landlord. If accepted this amount will be deducted from the total monies due. The payment is refundable if your offer is not accepted.

   

Deadline for agreement if a tenancy has not yet been entered into. Locus Estates will retain the holding deposit if the tenant provides false or deceptive information which affects Locus Estates decision to rent the property to the prospective tenant, if the prospective tenant fail a right to rent check, or if the prospective tenant withdraws from the agreement. 

A refundable tenancy deposit. Five weeks’ rent 

Changes to the tenancy agreement at the tenant’s request. In the event to make changes to a tenancy agreement A tenancy swap fee of £50 (inc. VAT) plus any reasonable costs incurred if higher, will be payable by the tenant. Please note that Tenancy Swaps are subject to the landlord’s consent and reference approval. 

Default Fee - early termination of tenancies. Early Termination of Contract at the tenant’s request: In the event that you wish to leave your contract early, you will be required to pay the landlord’s costs in re-letting the property as well as all rent, council tax and utilities due under the tenancy until the start date of the replacement tenancy. The costs will be no more than the maximum amount of rent outstanding on the tenancy. 

Default Fee - late payment of rent. Locus Estates may only charge tenants a default fee of interest on rent that is 14 days or more overdue. The fee will not exceed interest of 3% above Bank of England's base rate for each day that the payment is outstanding. 

Replacement of keys or other security devices in the event that any keys or other security devices are lost and need to be replaced, you will be required to pay the costs of replacing them. If the loss results in locks needing to be changed, you will be required to pay the actual costs of a locksmith, new lock and replacement keys for the tenant, landlord any other persons requiring keys. If extra costs are incurred there will be a charge of £15 per hour (inc. VAT) for the time taken replacing lost key(s) or other security device(s). If tenants require copy of the keys outside working hrs they will need to pay the reasonable delivery cost for the keys to be delivered to the property address.

TENANT PROTECTION

LOCUS ESTATES  is a member of UKALA (The UK association of Letting Agents) membership number : 190813, which is a client money protection scheme, and also a member of The Property Ombudsman Scheme MEMBERSHIP NUMBER : D12308 which is a redress scheme.

 

 

INFORMATION FOR TENANTS 

When renting a property, there are various costs that you will need to take into consideration when making an offer. 

BEFORE YOU MOVE IN 

Advance rent: Rent is usually payable in advance for each tenancy. You will therefore need to pay, as a minimum, the first months’ rent prior to the commencement of your tenancy, although the amount payable may differ dependent on the terms of your tenancy. 

A refundable holding deposit. you will be required to pay one weeks rent and this will be either returned or offset against the refundable tenancy deposit within 7 days, or up to a maximum of 15 days. This is required in order to submit your offer to the landlord. If accepted this amount will be deducted from the total monies due. The payment is refundable if your offer is not accepted.

   

Deadline for agreement if a tenancy has not yet been entered into. Locus Estates will retain the holding deposit if the tenant provides false or deceptive information which affects Locus Estates decision to rent the property to the prospective tenant, if the prospective tenant fail a right to rent check, or if the prospective tenant withdraws from the agreement. 

A refundable tenancy deposit. Five weeks’ rent 

Changes to the tenancy agreement at the tenant’s request. In the event to make changes to a tenancy agreement A tenancy swap fee of £50 (inc. VAT) plus any reasonable costs incurred if higher, will be payable by the tenant. Please note that Tenancy Swaps are subject to the landlord’s consent and reference approval. 

Default Fee - early termination of tenancies. Early Termination of Contract at the tenant’s request: In the event that you wish to leave your contract early, you will be required to pay the landlord’s costs in re-letting the property as well as all rent, council tax and utilities due under the tenancy until the start date of the replacement tenancy. The costs will be no more than the maximum amount of rent outstanding on the tenancy. 

Default Fee - late payment of rent. Locus Estates may only charge tenants a default fee of interest on rent that is 14 days or more overdue. The fee will not exceed interest of 3% above Bank of England's base rate for each day that the payment is outstanding. 

Replacement of keys or other security devices in the event that any keys or other security devices are lost and need to be replaced, you will be required to pay the costs of replacing them. If the loss results in locks needing to be changed, you will be required to pay the actual costs of a locksmith, new lock and replacement keys for the tenant, landlord any other persons requiring keys. If extra costs are incurred there will be a charge of £15 per hour (inc. VAT) for the time taken replacing lost key(s) or other security device(s). If tenants require copy of the keys outside working hrs they will need to pay the reasonable delivery cost for the keys to be delivered to the property address.

TENANT PROTECTION

LOCUS ESTATES  is a member of UKALA (The UK association of Letting Agents) membership number : 190813, which is a client money protection scheme, and also a member of The Property Ombudsman Scheme MEMBERSHIP NUMBER : D12308 which is a redress scheme.

 

Letting Fee Information

The asking rent does not include letting fees. Our standard administration fee (which covers general administration and preparation of paperwork) is £xxx (£xxx+VAT). A security deposit, usually equivalent to six weeks rent, is also payable.

Depending on your circumstances and the property you select, one or more of the following may also be charged to you upfront;

Fees may be charged on a per person or per property basis, please call us on 020 7249 2004